National's Collins wants tougher action on gangs with guns

National Party
MP Judith Collins is urging the government to crack down on
gangs with illegal firearms by giving the police greater
powers to raid gang homes.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

It follows recent comments made by Waikato
Mongrel Mob president, Sonny Fatu, who said the gang would
not be handing in their firearms under the new gun
laws.

Patched members of the Mongrel Mob stood side by
side performing haka outside a Hamilton mosque in a display
of solidarity following the Christchurch terror
attacks.

But days later its Waikato president, Sonny Fatu,
said the gang would not be handing in their guns to
authorities under the new gun laws.

The remarks have left
many MPs, including National's Judith Collins,
reeling.

"We also saw people like gang members coming out
and saying they were with the Muslim New Zealanders and then
someone asked them the question, 'what about giving up your
illegal firearms?'

"Well I tell you what ... best way
forward is to give the police the powers, give them the fire
power to do it, and get on and take them."

At the Arms
Amendment Bill's first reading in Parliament yesterday, she
urged the government to consider firearm prohibition orders
against gangs.

"One of the things I thought was most
important was the issue around firearm prohibition orders,
to enable to police to go into gang houses and seize
firearms, whether they know for certain they are there or
not.

"I'm sick and tired of listening to people emoting
about how they're feeling sorry, but they're not going to
give up their firearms."

National MP Mark Mitchell
agreed.

"The fact that they were flouting the authority
that this Parliament has, that this country has, in saying
that they are not going to observe the legislation that this
Parliament is passing.

"I 100 percent support in taking
the strongest possible line that we can against
gangs."

But Mongrel Mob member Tai Pairama said many gang
members will surrender illegal firearms, despite what the
gang's Waikato president said.

"That's his personal
opinion, it's not the opinion of the rest of the nation. The
views are in his own inner circle, and some people are
disregarding some of his comments."

Black Power life
member Denis O'Reilly said he could not believe MPs were
targeting gangs.

"Remember, it's the members of the
Pākehā gun club that committed this atrocity and it's
almost like a red herring that's been thrown to us to
suddenly turn this into a debate about gangs.

"My friend
and brother, Stuart Nash, starts talking about, 'oh can't
let these things in the hands of the gangs'. Where the hell
did the gang discussion come in?"

He is urging anyone with
a semi-automatic firearm to hand it in.

And he has just
one message for MPs.

"Not every Muslim is a terrorist, not
every gang member is a criminal, and not every criminal is a
gang member."

Owners of illegal firearms have until the
end of September to hand them into authorities.

Those who
do not, including gang members, could face up to 10 years in
prison.

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